Unreal IRCd + Commercial use

McTerry · Post by **McTerry** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 11:40 am

Hello everyone.

First before I start asking questions I would like to say that you guys in the Unreal IRCd team have really made a GREAT job in programming this.
I have used UnrealIRCd for some years now and loved it since the first time.
The first IRCd I used was wIRCd but then I found this one and it ROCKS!

Ehh.. Ok.. Let me start asking questions now.

-
I wounder if UnrealIRCd can be used for a commercial community?
It's not ment to sell things over the IRC network or have some kind of an fee to let ppl chat over there.
This part will be completly free.

What I want to know is, if it can be used on an separate server, while leasing clan servers and selling diffrent product in our store, that we will probably have later, on an diffrent section of our commuity.

I want to know the situation of this kind.

-

I know IRC should be free and I agree with that.
Thats why I don't like GameSurge (irc.gamesurge.net) for taking fees from ppl that want to have custom hosts.

-

I would be glad for some info about this.
Don't be afraid. I don't bite.

/*
If you don't understand what I mean, then think like this:

What if GameSpy Industries had their own IRC network using UnrealIRCd.
GameSpy is a company! They are selling games and other things over at their site.
Will they need to pay for using UnrealIRCd for their community?
*/

Dukat · Post by **Dukat** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:00 pm

So you want to pre-install UnrealIRCd on servers you lease?

That shouldn't be a problem, I think...
(If it were, no one could sell shells on Linux servers or offer hosting etc.)

But I'm no lawyer...

McTerry · Post by **McTerry** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 1:02 pm

hehe.
No I'm not going to put it on leasing servers.
It will be on our own IRC server witch means this wont be leased.

katsklaw · Post by **katsklaw** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 2:45 pm

The license that Unreal is under is an Open Source GPL. Which means that you can distribute binaries for a fee but you must also include the source code.

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.htm ... AllowMoney

Will they need to pay for using Unreal IRCd?

Donations are always welcome

McTerry · Post by **McTerry** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 7:27 pm

Doh.. This has nothing to do with SELLING IRC Servers.

Or selling the sofware.

Post by **Syzop** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 9:26 pm

While I don't entirely understand your situation, there are no restrictions on commercial use, only on redistribution of the software (the GPL stuff)....
So like, even though you say you wouldn't do it, just as an example: if you use a restricted chat system, and require everyone to pay you a million dollars to get on your irc server then that's legally ok (from unrealircd/gpl standpoint, that is) ;)).
Same for any (commercial) company running unreal (like, even aol uses it [icq.aol.com]).

McTerry · Post by **McTerry** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 10:28 pm

o_O

Yay ok.. I just wanted to be sure and know what you guys think about it.

"Better ask, than do and make it wrong."